When King Uther dies the sorcerer Merlin travels to collect Arthur, a young man he believes can bring an end to the darkness of the land. But Uther’s daughter Morgan sees the crown as her birthright.
The series begins with Morgan talking to her father, King Uther Pendragon. She offers him forgiveness for cheating on her mother and for sending her away for 15 years. Uther dismisses Morgan and says he no longer has a daughter. Morgan swears he will pay. Morgan kills her father and promptly banishes his wife, Igraine, inviting her father's most powerful enemy, King Lot to Camelot to formalise an alliance in the process. Merlin, Uther's most trusted adviser, finds a young man named Arthur, who has no direction in life. He tells Arthur that he is of royal blood and is the new king.
Arthur has trouble believing this but his adoptive parents tell him it is the truth. Merlin asks him to go with him and find his destiny, and Arthur agrees to find out answers about his past. Merlin, Arthur and his adoptive brother, Kay travel to the abandoned fortress of Camelot — the future site of Arthur's leadership. Back at Uther's palace, Morgan hears of the 'new king' and believes it is impossible and that she is the rightful heir and decides to go see Arthur for herself. Arthur asks Merlin about his birth, Merlin tells him his father had an affair with an enemy's queen, and that it was he who arranged the tryst.
The enemy's queen turns out to be Igraine who is at Camelot and tells Arthur she has always loved him from afar. Morgan along with King Lot show up at the castle, and tells everyone that she is the only legitimate heir and Igraine says it is true. Morgan offers Arthur a way out of this before anyone gets hurt. Arthur says that he is the King now and that he is not giving up his throne. Morgan promises war and death to Arthur and to anyone who stands in her way.
